TRA 3133 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Figure Skating, Vestibular System, Nystagmus
2 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
A trained brain reduces the inner-ear"s signals that cause vertigo. You spin around three times and the world wavers like the ocean. Yet, figure skaters spiral at incredible speeds, and professional dancers pirouette without blinking. There are several techniques which are the result of practice. In particular, the vestibular system contains nerve cells capable of detecting the head"s direction and speed of movement. These sensors are closely linked to eye movements. Thus, when we turn our head to the right while fixating on an object, our eyes naturally move to the left at the same speed. This reflex allows us to stay focused on a still point. But our gaze cannot rotate 360 , so when we spin, the object ends up out of our field of vision. Our eyes then return to an intermediate position; the repetition of this phenomenon results in an automatic oscillation of the gaze, called nystagmus.
